Crews Clear Debris from Storm Drain Near Flooded Las Vegas Plumbing Business
(Las Vegas) — Crews spent at least a few hours on Tuesday removing debris from a storm drain near Las Vegas Quality Water Works. The business flooded after remnants from Tropical Storm Rachael slammed into the valley last month.
The business stated that the drain became clogged with debris, causing water to flow into the building instead of down a drainage tunnel. They attributed the clog to debris from a nearby homeless camp and a broken pipe. Clark County officials confirmed the presence of a broken pipe.
Debris pulled from drain Crews extracted a chair, a storage bin, construction equipment, and other junk from the drain area just beyond the business’s parking lot.
The homeless camp, located nearby off Sunset near Decatur, was previously reported on by FOX5. A county contractor cleaned up the camp a day after the report, something that was welcomed by some businesses.
Repairs still ahead Connell mentioned that debris cleanup and repairs to the broken pipe are expected to continue.
"From what it sounds like, there’s still more debris that needs to be cleaned out. And then, second, they’re going to need to go underneath the street here and repair it. So, that could potentially mean that they’re digging up our parking lot. They’re digging up our neighbors’ parking lot."
The responsibility for repairs and flood damage at the business remains unclear.
Flood insurance Connell expressed that the business intends to purchase a flood insurance policy but will not be able to until the broken pipe is repaired. She expressed concern about potential issues if storms occur before repairs are finalized.
"I would say the biggest lesson is to go over your insurance policies and make sure that you have separate insurance for flood, just in case."
"We are finding out the hard way that we weren’t properly insured, and for the amount we pay per year, we thought we were covered. We thought we were fully covered for any scenario that could happen."
The Nevada State Insurance Division has advised people to prepare for possible El Niño flooding this fall and winter, emphasizing that standard homeowners, renters, and commercial insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The division noted that several insurers offer private flood policies.
County response Clark County stated that the damage to the pipe is significant and that repairs will take longer.
"Public Works has been working diligently to address this issue and the damage to the pipe is significant and will require lengthier repairs. We will continue to address the issue in the months to come."
County officials previously mentioned that it would be premature to speculate about liability for storm damage until a complete understanding of the flooding's causes is achieved. They also informed FOX5 that the homeless camp was on railroad property.
It remains unclear whether property ownership will play a role in determining responsibility for the flooding damage.
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